Students from Years 10 to 13 across Oldham traded their typical morning routine for networking and career strategy at the inaugural Hulme Grammar Apprenticeships Breakfast.
The event hosted at Hulme Grammar, brought together students, local tech innovators, businesses and global corporate giants to highlight the evolving landscape of work-based education.
The event is a key component of the independent school’s broader mission to provide a seamless transition from the classroom to the professional world. Hulme Grammar School continues to bridge the gap between education and industry through unique partnerships with industry leaders, ensuring that students are not only academically prepared but also deeply connected to the needs of the modern workforce.
These collaborations provide students with a distinct advantage, offering direct access to the networks and insights required to secure high-stakes roles in a competitive market.
The apprenticeship breakfast arrives as figures for the 2025/26 academic year so far (August 2025 to January 2026) illustrate the growing scale of work-based opportunities:
Growing Momentum: National apprenticeship starts have risen to 226,620—an 11.9% increase compared to the previous year.
The Rise of Higher Levels: Higher apprenticeship starts grew by 23.5% to 95,030. Within this bracket, Level 7 starts (equivalent to a Master’s degree) saw a significant 51.9% increase.
Sector Leaders: Business, Administration, and Law remain the most active areas with 70,880 starts, while Construction and the Built Environment grew by 7.7%.
In an era where the long-term costs of traditional university routes remain a central concern, the Hulme Grammar apprenticeship breakfast showcased how modern apprenticeships offer a prestigious, debt-free alternative.
We want our students to be able to plan ahead and make timely, informed choices,” said Mike Turner, Head of Futures at Hulme Grammar School. “Some of the top degree apprenticeship programmes are now as competitive as applications to medical school or Oxbridge. With national apprenticeship achievements up 16.2% this year, the results speak for themselves.
Hulme Grammar welcomed students from across the borough to meet with exhibiting organisations, including:
Finance & Law: AJ Bell Investments, KPMG, Cooper Parry, North Ainley Solicitors, and HMRC.
Tech & Public Sector: Koder.ly software designers and Greater Manchester Police.
Construction & Retail: Indevor and Housing Units.
Education: Manchester Metropolitan University.
The morning also featured first-hand accounts from current apprentices, providing a “boots-on-the-ground” look at balancing professional work with higher education. With 64.7% of starts now supported by Apprenticeship Service Account (ASA) levy funds, students saw first-hand how major employers are investing heavily in the next generation of talent.
Following the success of this year’s event, Hulme Grammar School looks forward to hosting an even more diverse range of providers next year to meet the rising demand for professional, work-based education.
